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Next-Gen Windshield Wipers To Be Based On Jet Fighter "Forcefield" Tech

Posted by samzenpus on from the rain-rain-go-away dept.

cartechboy writes "It looks like the old-school windshield wiper is about to be replaced by new technology — but not until 2015. British car-maker McLaren is apparently developing a new window cleaning system that is modeled from fighter jet tech. The company isn't revealing exactly how it will work, but the idea comes from the chief designer simply asking a military source why you don't see wipers on jets as they land. Experts expect McClaren to use constantly active, high-frequency sound waves outside the range of human hearing that will effectively create a force field across a car's windshield to repel water, ice insects and other debris. Similar sound waves are used by dentists to remove plaque from teeth."

18 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. Ice insects? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    This wiper also keeps lions away.

    1. Re:Ice insects? by Scutter · · Score: 5, Funny

      I know some journalists hate the Oxford Comma, but this is getting ridiculous,

      --

      "Tell me doctor, with all of your defenses, are there any provisions for an attack by killer bees?"
    2. Re:Ice insects? by jellomizer · · Score: 4, Funny

      Can it be adjusted by turning a knob. So if it is raining really hard I can divert power from the AC to the Shields.

      --
      If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
  2. Re:Impossible by bondsbw · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm pretty sure that most tech involving sound waves is not developed in space.

    --
    All my liberal friends think I'm a conservative, all my conservative friends think I'm a liberal.
  3. What happens when it can't keep up? by Monty845 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    What happens when its raining heavily, and a vehicle going the other way hits a puddle, and dumps a massive wave of water on your windshield? What happens when its full inch of heavy slush? I'd say its a nice addition on top of regular wipers, but I'm very skeptical about replacing them.

    1. Re:What happens when it can't keep up? by hubie · · Score: 4, Funny

      They forgot to mention that you need to be driving 500 mph for these to be most effective.

    2. Re:What happens when it can't keep up? by Bill,+Shooter+of+Bul · · Score: 5, Funny

      Solution: Don't drive a McClaren in those conditions. You'll just have to take the Bentley, or the Rolls Royce.

      --
      Well.. maybe. Or Maybe not. But Definitely not sort of.
    3. Re:What happens when it can't keep up? by Capt.DrumkenBum · · Score: 4, Funny

      Solution: Don't drive a McClaren in those conditions. You'll just have to take the Bentley, or the Rolls Royce.

      You don't drive a Bentley or a Rolls Royce... Your chauffeur drives the Bentley or the Roller. So it doesn't matter how the windscreen is kept clean as you will be riding in back, far away from such irrelevancies.
      As it should be.

      --
      If I were God, wouldn't I protect my churches from acts of me?
  4. Re:Impossible by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    In space, no one can hear you wipe

  5. Howling dogs by cyberfringe · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is this why my dog howls when he drives my McClaren in the rain? I always thought he howled for the sheer fun of it!

    --
    There's no sense in being precise when you don't even know what you're talking about. -- John von Neumann
  6. Bleed Air, Not Sound by DougF · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Jet fighters use bleed air to clear the windscreens, not high frequency sound. The pilot just has to remember to use it sparingly on the ground, or the windscreen melts, which most pilots agree is a bad thing...and mechanics get really ticked off replacing them. Another way to clean the windscreens is a quick shot of JP-8 from your nearby in-flight refueler (booms works best), but you didn't hear that from me...

    --
    Impetuous! Homeric!
  7. Combine it! by Wdi · · Score: 4, Funny

    For maximum effect, apply JP-8 and scorching hot exhausts simultaneously!

  8. Re:Rain X by DougF · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...for about 30 seconds and then as the aircraft accelerates past 200kts or so, the rain x is scrubbed off. We tried it, didn't work. Best thing is to use a plexiglass polish to keep the glass as smooth as possible between flights. A bug hitting the windscreen of a fighter jet going 500+kts is not going to be repelled by high frequency sound or any hydrophobic surface. I've seen dents in the leading edges of the wings just from hitting grasshoppers...

    --
    Impetuous! Homeric!
  9. Re:Not the plaque cleaner, please! by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Um, I hear those sound waves just fine (high frequency sensitive). My dentist had to give up using it on me.

    You may not actually be hearing the sound waves themselves, but the harmonics they create inside of your skull/jawbone/ear.

    I can hear them too, but I've more or less concluded that, like everything else in a dentist office, it's temporary and the benefits outweigh the nuisance.

    I hate the sound, but it seems less problematic than the medieval tools they use otherwise.

    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  10. Re:Bugs and Dirt by sjbe · · Score: 4, Informative

    I am curious as to how it will "fix" the bugs getting smeared on the windscreen.

    Heck I've never found a set of windshield wipers that truly solves this problem. Usually they just end up smearing bug guts all over.

  11. Re:High power ultrasound? by SJHillman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Teenagers are programmed to only hear things that have been turned up to 11.

  12. Re:What they didn't say... by Talderas · · Score: 4, Informative

    I believe jets do indeed land at 10,000+ feet. There are 13 commercial airports with an altitude of 10,000 feet or higher. That's not including any military airports.

    --
    "Lack of speed can be overcome. In the worst case by patience." --Znork
  13. Re:High power ultrasound? by Zynder · · Score: 4, Funny

    Sorry guy. I made that joke to my teens and they didn't get it. See the world has moved on and inflation is a real bitch. 11 just isn't good enough anymore. To get a reaction out of kids these days, it better be OVER 9000! or they won't even raise an eyebrow. Why the hell are they still on my lawn?